Parker Van Dyke on why being a disciple of Jesus Christ comes before basketball

Although professional basketball player Parker Van Dyke has worn jerseys for the Salt Lake City Stars and Austin Spurs, he sees his first identity as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Parker currently plays for the NBA G League and broadcasts high school games. He’s also played professionally in Europe, after starting for the University of Utah Utes and serving a full-time mission in the Alabama Birmingham Mission.

Through all this, Van Dyke’s advice to others is to be builders — both on a team and in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He joins Church News reporter Mary Richards in the meetinghouse gym where he grew up playing in Salt Lake City.

Experience behind-the-scenes stories and interviews relating to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Join Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News, and Church News reporter Mary Richards as they interview Church leaders, members who are making a difference, and writers from the Church News team.